Coal Ministry to move Cabinet for fuel linkages to power sector

The Coal Ministry will soon seek Cabinet approval for the auction of coal linkages for the power sector.

“It is broadly finalised. We will take it to the Cabinet soon,” said Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal. “We will soon go for inter-ministerial consultations. The whole process has been finalised.”

Goyal said that the government was not in a hurry to auction linkages for the power sector as there is sufficient availability of coal in the country for all sectors. “We are trying to create a robust mechanism which ensures highest level of transparency,” he said.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved allocation of coal linkages for non-regulated sectors only through an auction process.

Coal India had decided to allocate around 23.25 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in the first tranche of coal linkage auctions.